Aboriginal Australian people lived in the area for tens of thousands of years before the colonisation of South Australia.

The rails were converted to broad gauge 1,600 mm with a new station built on the edge of town in 1959.

[13] The main industries are fishing, wine-making, sheep and cattle farming and recreation, the district having a large influx of tourists during holiday periods throughout the year.

The northern entrance to the town is dominated by the Big Lobster, named "Larry" by people in Kingston.

The museum also houses a lifeboat from MS Oliva which washed ashore after two years adrift.

Kingston SE has a warm-summer mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb), with warm, dry summers and mild, drizzly winters.